NASA/GRC has a requirement for Data Acquisition Units for the Space Launch System.

NASA/GRC intends to purchase the items from Teletronics Technology Corporation of Newtown, PA 18940 on an ID/IQ basis for a period not to exceed sixty (60) months. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy Agency requirements.

The rationale supporting use of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) is that there is a sound basis to conclude that the Agency's minimum needs can only be satisfied by maintaining the current source. Specifically, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii)(A) and (B) and FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A), when procuring a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment , including major components, supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source when there will be "Substantial duplication of cost to the government that is not expected to be recovered through competition" and/or (iii)(B), "Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Agency's requirements."

Award of a contract to a source other than TTC for the SLS DFI DAUs would result in duplication of cost to the government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. Duplication of cost to the government if a source other than TTC is selected would result from: 1) Loss of investment of funds spent to date for engineering model DAUs that would have to be replaced and procured from the new supplier; and 2) loss of funds spent to date by NASA and their two primary contractors, Boeing and ATK, to bring the DFI system design, integrated with the avionics design, up through the preliminary design phase. This includes extensive testing of hardware and training completed in programming and configuration of the DAUs.

Award of a contract to a source other than TTC for the SLS DFI DAUs would also result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling NASA's requirements. Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Agency's requirements for SLS, if a source other than TTC is selected, would result from: 1) Significant critical path delay as a result of competition; 2) a significant setback in schedule resulting from NASA and their two primary contractors on SLS, Boeing, and ATK, having to repeat the preliminary design phase and integration of the new DAU into the current DFI architecture; and 3) loss of time and knowledge associated with the testing and training on the current DAUs that would have to be repeated with the new DAUs.

Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on December 28, 2012. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency.